Central vacuum system for removing cut hair



y 3, 1969 J. L. RANKIN 3,443,274

CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM FOR REMOVING our HAIR Filed June a, 1966 Sheet of 2 FIG 5 y 13,1969 I J. L. RANKIN 3,443,274

CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM FOR REMOVING CUT HAIR Filed June 6, 1966 Sheet 5 'of 2 United States Patent Q 3,443,274 CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM FOR REMOVING CUT HAIR James L. Rankin, 5952 Brown Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63134 Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 555,521 Int. Cl. B605 1/64, 1/54; A471 /38 11.8. CI. 15-314 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a central vacuum system for use in removing cut hair from the head, and particularly relates to a control cone having a plurality of outlets suitable for use with any suction source.

The present invention is an improvement and completion of the invention covered in my prior Patent No. 3,050,767 dated Aug. 28, 1962.

Although vacuum devices have been proposed in the past for removing particles of cut hair from a patrons head, such devices have not proven completely satisfactory. For the most part, prior devices have been costly, and had never been built into a complete easy-to-install unit.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, all-in-one, compact, relatively noiseless central vacuum system for use in a multichair barber shop, said system using a vacuum source positioned exteriorly of the main shop portion wherein the customers are barbered, with only a flexible hose being visible in said shop portion, so that obnoxious noises and bulky unsightly equipment are minimized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a complete system adapted to be connected to a suction means, said system being particularly suitable for use in barber shops by reason of easy installation, which involves merely drilling a hole and plugging-in the nozzle portion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a complete vacuum system for barber shops comprising a control cone having a plurality of outlets, each of said outlets having a nozzle, flexible hose, tubing, wire and plug, to be attached to the control cone in combination with an on-off means for automatically actuating the vacuum source when any of said nozzles is removed from the backbar of the shop; each of said nozzles having a ball and seat valve means for interrupting flow of air through said nozzle when said nozzle is positioned on the backbar of the shop.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention invention comprises a hair removal central vacuum system having a control cone in combination with a plurality of outlets, which can be "ice made-up to order and sent by mail, consisting of a nozzle, flexible hose, tubing, wire and plug, with an on-off switch, and valve means in the nozzle to cut olf flow of air through said nozzle when it is not in use. The present invention further comprises a nozzle having a ball and seat valve to interrupt the flow of air therethrough, and a protruding member at the forward end thereof to space the nozzle opening from the surfaces of the object being vacuumed.

In the drawings, therein like numbers refer to like parts wherever they occur.

FIG. 1 is a partially broken view of a shop utilizing the present invention which has been installed but not hooked p;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the control cone in a hooked-up position using three outlets with portions of the air and electrical conduits broken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 using three of the five outlets;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an indivdual chair vacuum unit consisting of nozzle, flexible hose, tubing, wire and p FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the nozzle applied to a patrons head;

FIG. 6 is a detailed side view of the nozzle in its inoperative position with the flexible hose, tubing, and electrical leads partially broken away and showing the nozzle attached to a backbar with the backbar partially broken away;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 with the backbar partially broken away;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the nozzle in its operative position with the flexible hose, tubing, and electrical leads partially broken away;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram of the present invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a barber shop 10 having a plurality of conventional barber chairs 11 positioned therein. A wall 12 of a backbar 13 divides the main shop area from an area behind the backbar which houses a vacuum source 14. The backbar 13 is positioned along one wall of the shop 10 and houses therein any main vacuum source 14, having a flexible vacuum hose 15 and a conventional electrical wire and plug connection 16. Also behind the backbar 13 is a control cone 17, having an electrical wire and plug 18 for connection to a voltage source.

Installed in the backbar 13, by drilling holes in the shop Wall 12, are a plurality of individual vacuum means 19, which are made up to order and consist of a nozzle 20, a flexible vacuum hose 21, vacuum tubing 22 connected to the nozzle 20, and an electrical wire and plug 23 connected to the on-olf switch (to be described hereinafter) on the nozzle 20.

The control cone 17 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and consists of a hollow truncated conical section which tapers on one end so as to be readily connectable to any size flexible hose 15 which may come with the vacuum source 14. To connect the hose 15 to the cone 17, it is merely pushed on the tapered end of the cone 17 until it fits in a snug fit. The cone 17 has mounted on its top an electrical box 17a, which includes an electrical connecting plug 18 for connecting to an outside voltage source 27a and a plurality of electrical receptacles which are connected in parallel to the voltage source 27a, so that any individual receptacle can receive an electrical connec- 3 tion and the electrical connection will be then connected to the voltage source 27a.

As mentioned, the cone 17 is hollow and on the front face (FIG. 3) are provided a series of knockout connections 26 which, when knocked out, connect the vacuum source 14 to a conduit 22 which is merely inserted into the knocked-out opening 26. Thus, the vacuum source 14 is connected to the nozzle for use by the barber.

The electrical connection 16 from the vacuum source 14 is plugged into the first receptacle 24 on the connection box 17a. The electrical connections 23 from the individual vacuum means 19, are plugged into the other receptacles in the connection box 17a, so as to electrically connect vacuum source 14 and the nozzles 20 to the outside voltage source 27a. In the example of FIG. 2, a series of five barber chairs could be accommodated in the receptacle box 17a and the vacuum source knock-outs 26. It is apparent that the cone 17 can be constructed so as to accommodate any number of chairs in the shop. The conduit 22 may be connected to the knock-out opening 26 by a bayonet type connection, a tapered socket connection, or .any suitable connecting means.

In installing the present invention in a shop, the vacuum source 14 is installed, the cone 17 then is positioned behind the backbar 13 and a suitable number of openings are drilled through the backbar wall 12 to accommodate the conduits 22. The conduits 22 and the electrical connections 23 are inserted into the openings in the backbar wall 12, the electrical plugs 23 are positioned in the receptacles 25, the vacuum source electrical connection 16 is connected to the electrical receptacle 24 and the electrical connection 18 is plugged into a suitable outside voltage source 27a. The openings 26 to be used are knocked out and the conduits 22 are inserted therein. The nozzles 20 are suspended on suitable brackets 29 positioned on the backbar 13 and the system is set up and ready for operation.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the nozzle 20 applied to a patrons head. Each of the nozzles 20 can be made of a suitable colored plastic to give a pleasing appearance and includes an outer cylindrical shell 27 (FIG. 6) adapted to be connected at one end to the flexible hose 21 and the clear tubing 22. A hook 28 is pivotally fastened to the shell 27 and is adapted to be connected to a bracket 29 on the backbar 13. The book 28 is also a lock for the two piece shell 27 which consists of a nozzle cap 30 which is screwed onto the base of the nozzle 31. The hook 28 includes a bight portion 28a and inturned ends 28b which engage aligned openings 30a and 31a in the nozzle cap 30 and the nozzle base 31 respectively. The hook ends 28b are snapped into place in the openings 30a and 31a to keep the cap 30 and the base 31 of the shell 27 locked in place (FIG. 9). This construction is easy to clean and cheap to manufacture utilizing the screw-off top. A protruding hollow spacer member 32 having a semi-spherical outer surface is positioned at the open end of the shell 27 by spacer brackets 34. The inner surface of the shell 27 and the outer periphery of the spacing member 32 defines an annular opening 35 which is adapted to pass air and particles of hair, etc., into the vacuum apparatus. When the nozzle 20 is in use, the spacer member 32 engages the object being vacuumed and the annular opening 35 is spaced from said object, so that the opening 35 is kept open and does not become clogged (FIG. 5).

A ball 36 is adapted to be seated in a valve seat 37 which is fixed to the inner surface of the shell 27 and is spaced from the rear edge of the protruding member 32. Since the hollow pocket defined by the inner surface of the member 32 is adapted to receive the ball 36, the ball 36 is adapted to be seated in either the valve seat 37 or the hollow forward member 32, depending on the position of the nozzle 20. In other words, when the nozzle 20 is positioned with the free end upwardly (FIG. 6) the ball 36 is seated in the seat member 37 and effectively seals the annular opening 35 from the clear tubing 22.

However, when the nozzle 20 is in an operative position (FIGS. 5 and 8), the ball 36 is housed inside the hollow spacing member 32 and the clear hose 22 is in communication with the annular opening 35 at the front end of the shell 27. An on-off mercury switch 33 is positioned in a slip fit between the outside of the tubing 22 and the inside of the shell 27 and is connected by leads 38 and 39 to the wire and plug 23 which runs between the flexible hose 21 and the clear tubing 22 to the receptacles 25 on the cone 17. When the nozzle 20 is upright (FIG. 6) the mercury is seated away from the leads 38 and 39 :and contact therebetween is broken. However, when the nozzle 20 is in operating position (FIG. 8), the mercury establishes contact between the leads 38 and 39 so that the vacuum apparatus 14 is actuated.

The on-off switches 33 positioned in each of the nozzles 20 are connected in parallel to the actuating mechanism of the vacuum apparatus 14, so that if one of the nozzles 20 is used, the vacuum source 14 is actuated. However, in order to insure that the vacuum is pulled through the nozzle 20 which actually is being used, the inoperative nozzles 20 are positioned in an upright position (such as being hooked onto the backbar bracket 29) so that the seating of the balls 36 in the valve seats 37 interrupts air flow between the annular openings 35 and the tubings 22, and thus prevents the vacuum from being pulled through any of the inoperative nozzles 20.

In operation, the nozzles 20 are normally positioned in an upright position on the backbar brackets 29. Since the leads 38 and 39 are positioned in the forward end of the switches 33, the mercury is spaced from said leads and contact therebetween is interrupted. The floating balls 36 are all seated in their respective ball seats 37 to interrupt air flow between the annular openings 35 and the clear tubings 22. When one of the nozzles 20 is to be used, it is removed from the bracket 27, turned so that the free end is downwardly and the ball 36 floats into the hollow cavity defined by the inner surface of the member 32 to establish communication between the annular opening 35 and the tubing 22 through the passageway defined by the ball seat 37. The air flow through the nozzle 20 is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8.

While mercury switches are preferred, other on-otf electrical switches can be used.

Thus it is apparent that the present invention provides a central vacuum system which achieves all of the objects and advantages sought therefore.

The present invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A system comprising a vacuum source positioned behind a barber shop backbar, a plurality of independently operated vacuum nozzles in front of the backbar for removing cut hair, flexible hoses connected to the vacuum nozzles and passing through the backbar for communicating the nozzles with the vacuum source, electrical wires positioned adjacent to and outside of the flexible hoses, a protective flexible cover around the wires and the vacuum hose on the shop side of the backbar, the wires being connected at one end to the control switch for the vacuum nozzle and having a plug-in assembly on the other end for rapid connection to and disconnection from a source of electrical energy, and a hollow vacuum control manifold having one end adapted to connect to the vacuum source and having knock-out panels adapted to receive the ends of the flexible hoses behind the backbar so as to connect the nozzles to the vacuum source.

2. The structure of claim 1 including a main electrical box mounted on the manifold and having receptacles for receiving electrical plug-in connections from the main vacuum source and the individual vacuum units, said re- 5 6 ceptacles being connected in parallel across a plug-in con- 1,768,616 7/ 1930 Lee 15-414 nection to an outside 115 voltage source. 2,602,608 7/ 1952 Darling.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 365,985 7/1906 France- 3,050,767 8/ 1962 Rankin 15-314 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 3,258,553 6/1966 Breslin 15-314 XR 

